I went swimming on Friday night. It was nice and quiet at 9pm - I had a lane to myself. However, on the way I went over the bridge into the town and realised what looked like a big cloud in front of me was actually smoke and there were firemen around. I'd forgotten about it until I went home and found the police had blocked the bridge off. It turns out it was a fire in a restaurant that they think started in a chip pan and involved four fire crews to put it out.

Thankfully, I knew an alternative way home, but that did involve going on a dual carriageway. I haven't been on them that often in the dark, so it was scary just going up the sliproad, that was up a hill, and I could see nothing at all in front of me. It was also the first time I'd gone on a dual carriageway/motorway without my sat nav so I had nothing to tell me when to get off, except I was fairly sure I only had to go one junction. I alternated between watching the traffic, the road, looking out for road signs and panic with a bit of fear.

I then got completely confused coming off it because I was on the other side of the roundabout to when I'm used to coming off that road, as I'm usually coming up it from the south. It was slightly surreal being able to go my own way and not having to ignore the sat nav, which doesn't pick the best way home.

Then I went swimming again last night, forgetting that the carnival was in town. Once I got over the bridge I was then off around the town following diversion signs, and ones for the town centre when there were no diversion signs. Most of the time I had no idea where I was or where I was going. So that was scary too. Fortunately, I had noticed on the way in that I could go the usual way home.

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